Mineral water, when sold in bottles or consumed at the source, such as spas, have been popular for centuries as a cure for various ailments. With modern knowledge that many diseases may be associated with a mineral imbalance, there appears to be some logic in increasing mineral intake. Many people prefer mineral waters because the water does not contain added mineral salts to soften, chlorinate or fluoridate the water, and because it has had minimal contact with piping before they drink it. However, the nutritional value of mineral water is debatable.
Definition of Mineral Water
The official definition of mineral water under Food and Drug Administration regulations states, "Natural mineral water contains not less than 250 parts per million-ppm total dissolved solids that originate from a geologically and physically protected underground water source." The FDA also makes clear that adding minerals to "fluff" up a produces claim of "mineral water," is strictly forbidden.
Allowable Changes
The only treatments allowed for natural mineral water are filtration or decanting, total or partial removal of carbon dioxide, when the carbon dioxide is lost in the production process. Essentially, you can only put in the water what was essentially taken out. The FDA prohibits chlorination, fluoridation and softening of natural mineral waters, because they would no longer be "natural."
Nutritional Value
The essential value of mineral water is in the water and not so much the minerals. As water makes up approximately 60 percent of the human body, drinking water to replace what is lost in perspiration and elimination is healthy. However, because the amount of minerals in mineral water is so low, the benefit is equally low. The nutritional value, therefore, is minimal.
Absorption
Natural mineral water varies widely in their mineral content, which is dependent on where the water comes from. Another factor is the body's ability to absorb the minerals. In the U.S., the FDA prohibits advertisers from claiming that mineral water is beneficial to health, because, in fact, no one is sure how much would have to be consumed to reap the benefit.
Minerals in Mineral Water
Minerals that you might find in mineral water include aluminum, arsenic, borondioxyde, bromine, calcium, chloride, cobalt, carbondioxyde, chromium, copper, fluoride, germanium, iodine, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nitrate, potassium, rubidium, silica, sodium, strontium, sulphate and zinc. As you can see, not all minerals found in minerals water are beneficial.
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